Inside the Simon Boccanegra, an ordinary people provides greatness push abreast of your, fulfilling his ultimate demise as a consequence of good confluence regarding future and you will scenario. In the process, the guy manages to lose and you can regains a beneficial child, quashes a trend or several, and you will unites Italy together with passing away breathing. Of numerous audience revere Verdi’s masterful get while as well sniffing at the convoluted spot, however, Laurence Dale’s production for Opera Philadelphia’s Festival O23 makes an effective persuasive circumstances into work’s remarkable unity.
This new manager have that point intentionally vague, that have towering establishes by the Gary McCann you to definitely subtly suggest a beneficial fascist artistic. You to definitely evaluation may seem some unfair on the label profile – a man who is ethical with the center, even if he don’t entirely prevent the trappings from autocracy – nevertheless underscores the truth that you to definitely man or woman’s saving grace are another’s tyrant. Dale employs a lot more-textual equipment you to coordinate this new backstory without opposing Piave and you can Boito’s libretto. The manager and you can artists perform an enthusiastic admirable amount of specificity into the storytelling, due to the greater expanses of your Academy of Music’s stage and you can the newest opera’s sporadically static offers.
You can listen to in Taylor’s sound the possibility to improve to the good Verdi baritone inside the own best
On the gap, Corrado Rovaris unflaggingly aids the action onstage if you are confirming this new perfection of rating, you start with female designs about stately prelude. Towards the end of one’s Prologue, where Boccanegra is elevated in order to Doge from Genoa, the guy whips new orchestra on the a phantasmagorical madness, hence matches the new intense singing of your own plebian chorus. (Opera Philadelphia chorus master E Braden will continue to works miracle femmes russes cГ©libataires datant with their unique forces – I would personally dislike to get rid of their own in your neighborhood, however, she will be in contention on soon-to-become unused Metropolitan Opera gig.) Throughout the evening, Rovaris makes one to tune in to common songs having the ears, because the as he ravishingly layers the latest chain, winds and percussion during the “Come in quest’ora bruna” – at the same time and then make Verdi seem like the fresh progenitor regarding one another Debussy and you will Berg.
Getting his first getaway in the name role, Quinn Kelsey continues to burnish his bona fides once the biggest Verdi baritone off his age bracket. Even in the event the guy never ever struggled with vocal projection, the guy best lyricism through the, shading their melting legato vocal that have advice of age and indecision rather than barking contours to present Boccanegra’s setting up psychological distress. His latest utterances sounded correctly troubled, even if his sturdy tonal charm stayed. Towards help of Fernand Ruiz’s apparel, the guy displayed their character’s evolution regarding simple corsair so you’re able to huge ruler, and you will on opera’s later serves, the guy reminded the viewers you to definitely Boccanegra continues to be an essentially a beneficial people within his core.
Soprano Ana Maria Martinez lacked a few of the hallelia, this new child away from Boccanegra that is increased of the his archenemy, Jacopo Fiesco. Dont predict ethereally floated large cards otherwise a particular expansiveness regarding build. A slight defeat crept into Martinez’s sound from the minutes, also, but total, she brought a sensible and you will very sounds interpretation off good Verdi woman that will from time to time come across as pretty and you can vacant. Her Amelia was headstrong and you can confidant, regardless if it’s hard to appreciate what pulls their particular so you’re able to Richard Trey Smagur’s hooty, overacted Gabriele Adorno.
In an attractive recurring moment, a light-gowned supernumerary haunts the fresh periphery because the Boccanegra’s late spouse and you may Amelia’s mother; she eventually leads Simon towards afterlife
Religious Van Horn cut a regal, dignified figure given that Fiesco, although the character lies a keen octave roughly underneath the comfort region regarding his basically lyric trout-baritone. Given that Paolo Albiani, Boccanegra’s turncoat advisor, baritone Benjamin Taylor is an advancement, pouring acres off plangent sounds to the what can easily be a standard-procedure villain.
